Lewis Hamilton stung again by Williams chief as Michael Masi backed for Abu Dhabi decision | F1 | Sport
Williams chief Jost Capito appeared to strike out at Lewis Hamilton again by backing race director Michael Masi for his role in Abu Dhabi’s controversial season finale. Masi’s divisive decision in the latter stages at Yas Marina effectively cost the Brit his eighth world title, prompting fears that he could retire from F1.
Max Verstappen was handed a huge advantage in Abu Dhabi when Masi ordered the lapped drivers between the two title protagonists to pass through behind a late safety car.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was incensed at the decision after Hamilton had built up a substantial lead during the race.
And the Dutchman pounced on his final-lap opportunity by executing a stunning overtake to clinch his maiden title.
Hamilton took an absence from the public eye in the wake of his 2021 heartbreak, prompting speculation that he could retire from F1.
After all, Wolff refused to rule out his exit from the sport in December after the 37-year-old had become ‘disillusioned‘.
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Last month, Capito claimed that he ‘does not care’ whether Hamilton makes a comeback, before branding it ‘really totally irrelevant’.
As if not clear already, the Williams chief’s allegiances have become even more evident in light of recent comments made on Masi’s decision to ‘go racing‘.
“I know Masi quite well, I met him a couple of times,” he told the Collecting Cars podcast.
“I think they handle it very well, for what’s going on. And also Masi is very professional, and I don’t believe anybody in the FIA or the stewards prefer, at any time, any team or any driver.
“You have to take the decisions quite quickly and immediately, and that decision is seen by millions or billions of people live at the same time.
“It’s a huge pressure. And I believe they have handled it very well.
When quizzed on whether Hamilton was hard done by at Yas Marina, Capito continued: “I would say this is like life.
“If you say sport is absolutely fair, what is fair? Is life fair?
“Life isn’t fair all the time. I think Masi did it very well under the pressure he was and the decisions he had taken.
“He wanted the championship to be decided without anybody else being involved, which is why he let the [lapped] cars through.”
Although Capito saw no issue with Masi’s decision making, the FIA have responded to outrage by opening an internal investigation into what unfolded at Yas Marina.
The FIA executive director of single-seaters, Peter Bayer, confirmed that the findings, which are set to be presented later this month, could see the Australian given his marching orders.
Hamilton’s future is thought to depend on a commitment to wholesale governance changes, and while it is currently unclear whether such changes will be undertaken, the seven-time world champion did drop his biggest hint yet of a 2022 return on Saturday.
In a long-awaited social media post, the Mercedes man simply stated: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
